Drugs giant AstraZenenca has teamed up with UK scientists to manufacture and distribute the world’s first coronavirus vaccine.
The pharmaceutical firm has pledged to produce 100 million doses by the end of the year and prioritise the UK.
The Oxford University team are the first in Europe to launch human trials and have pledged to sell the vaccine at cost price.
The race to develop a vaccine is key to a return to normal life and the agreement with AstraZenenca was confirmed on Thursday.
Prof Sir John Bell, of Oxford University described the partnership as a “major force in the struggle against pandemics”.
He said: “We also want to make sure that the rest of the world will be ready to make this vaccine at scale so that it gets to populations in developing countries, for example, where the need is very great.
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“We really need a partner to do that and that partner has a big job in the UK because our manufacturing capacity in the UK for vaccines isn’t where it needs to be, and so we are going to work together with AstraZeneca to improve that considerably.”
Results from the clinical trial could be available in June but the jab is unlikely to be ready for roll-out until next year.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was “hugely welcome news” that Oxford University had come to an agreement with AstraZeneca to scale up its coronavirus vaccine.
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He tweeted: “The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced in the world. Bringing together the best British science and the best of British business will give us the best possible shot at a vaccine.
“The science is uncertain, and no vaccine may work, but this deal gives the UK the best chance we can of a breakthrough that could defeat this awful virus. I’m sending best wishes for good fortune to all involved – for the sake of the nation and indeed the whole world.”
The team last week dosed the first volunteers, and earlier this month said large-scale production capacity was being put in place to make millions of doses even before trials show whether it is effective.
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Only a handful of the vaccines in development have advanced to human trials, an indicator of safety and efficacy – and the stage where most vaccines fail.
AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot said: “It is definitely a risk to launch into development of this vaccine, but now is the time to take those risks.
“This is a terrible crisis we’re facing, and we need solutions.”
The drugmaker did not give details on when it plans to start producing the vaccine “ChAdOx1 nCoV-19”, being developed by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group.
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Though the firm is not a major player in vaccine development unlike European peers GSK and Sanofi, who are working on their own vaccine, it has deep pockets and a vast £5 billion-strong research budget.
The AstraZeneca-Oxford partnership is looking to produce 100 million doses by the end of the year and prioritise supply in the UK, Soriot said.
However the chairman of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts advising the World Health Organisation advised caution.
Prof Adam Finn, of Bristol University, said: “The first horse out of the box isn’t necessarily the horse that finishes the race.
“I think naming a particular vaccine as front-runner now is potentially misleading, it is simply telling you it is in the process.”
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